THWART

I. transitive verb Etymology: Middle English thwerten, from thwert, adverb Date: 13th century 1. to run counter to so as to effectively oppose or baffle ; contravene , to oppose successfully ; defeat the hopes or aspirations of, to pass through or across, see: frustrate ~er noun II. adverb Etymology: Middle English thwert, from Old Norse thvert, from neuter of thverr transverse, oblique; akin to Old High German dwerah transverse, oblique Date: 14th century a~ , III. adjective Date: 14th century situated or placed across something else ; transverse , ~ly adverb IV. noun Etymology: alteration of obsolete thought, thoft, from Middle English thoft, from Old English thofte; akin to Old High German dofta rower's seat Date: circa 1736 a seat extending a~ a boat